S. H. M. (Samuel Hawkins Marshall) Byers

Born in 1838, he grew up in Iowa and served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was captured during the war and later became known for writing "Sherman's March to the Sea," a poem that helped popularize the phrase still used for General William Tecumseh Sherman’s campaign.

After the war, he continued writing and also served the United States abroad as a diplomat, including postings in Switzerland and Italy. His career blended public service with literature, and his books and poems often drew on his wartime experiences.

He also holds a special place in Iowa history as the writer of "The Song of Iowa," the state song. Living until 1933, he left behind the record of a remarkably long life shaped by war, memory, and a lasting gift for turning experience into verse.